Tips on fundraising for a good cause. / Thinkstock

by Regina Lewis, Special for USA TODA

by Regina Lewis, Special for USA TODA

Giving back is noble, but when you're asking other people to contribute money, there are some do'sand don'ts worth considering.

Here's a quick snapshot of some of the best advice we've come across and some useful resources on the best ways to approach fundraising.

â?¢ Limit the number of solicitations. First, how often can you tap people in your network? In a Real Simple Magazine article, a development adviser for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure cautions against inundating people. It suggests limiting requests to friends and acquaintances to once or twice a year. Family members can hear from you more frequently.

â?¢ Keep e-mail addresses private. Don't send group emails that show the addresses of all the recipients. You've got to be sensitive to privacy and not opening people up to others "replying to all" and flooding email in-boxes or borrowing email addresses for future solicitations. Use the "Bcc" or "blind copy" option so recipients can't see everyone else's e-mail address.

â?¢ Personally walk the talk. This is crucial: Walk the talk in terms of committing your own money, time and/or sweat equity. People will feel a lot better about giving if it's clear through your own actions you've got skin in the game.

â?¢ Accept credit cards. Make it easy to give. If you are reliant on collecting cash or people sending checks, there'll be a natural response-rate drop off, just as there is in any business. Being able to accept credit cards can make all the difference. Consider establishing a PayPal account â?? they offer discounts for non-profits - or use eventbrite.com to essentially sell "tickets" to your cause.

PayAnwhere is a stand-out new option. Once you download the app, they send you a free credit card reader that plugs into your smartphone, so you can literally take donations with your iPhone, iPad or any Android or Blackberry device. There are no monthly fees. You simply pay a relatively low transaction swipe fee of 2.69%.

â?¢ Give thanks. Most people don't mind deservedly being publicly thanked as well on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Generosity is a virtue people appreciate being associated with. If you send around photos of the event, it might have the added benefit of being a graceful reminder. Invariably you'll get "oops â?¦ sorry I forgot to give" replies. Make sure the means to collect funds is still "live" so the option is still available.

â?¢ Provide receipt. Lastly, make it easy for the person donating to appropriately declare the contribution for tax purposes. Attach a receipt of payment/contribution to your thank-you note with the logo of the affiliated 501c3 organization.

If you've had success fundraising and have tips to share, feel free to relay them in the comments.

Regina Lewis is a national television contributor and host of USA TODAY's "Money Quick Tips" videos. Follow her on Twitter: @ReginaLewis.